Switch for alternating taillights and signals



Jan. 17, 1939.

o. .J. CRAWFORD AL SWITCH FOR ALTERNATING TAILLIGHTS AND SIGNALSOriginal Filed Dec. 27, 1954 Patented Jan. 17, 1939 PATENT OFFICE SWITCHFOR ALTERNATING TAILLIGHTS AND SIGNALS Oscar J. Crawford and James W.Brown, Anderson, Ind., assignors of one-third to Ralph E.

White, Anderson, Ind.

Original application December 27, 1934, Serial No. 759,415, now PatentNo. 2,032,472, dated March 3, 1936.

Divided and this application January 31, 1936, Serial No. 61,831

2 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inalternating tail lights and signals.

The primary object of the invention is to pro- Vide a signal light andoperating means therefor especially designed for use in connection withmotor vehicles to indicate proposed changes in direction of travel andthe stopping of the motor vehicle, the signal embodying a pair of lightsadapted to be alternately flashed for quickly attracting attentionthereto, the two alternately flashing signal lights being in addition tothe usual tail light and closely associated therewith as by beinglocated in the same signal box.

This application is a division of application filed by Oscar J. Crawfordand James W. Brown, for Alternating tail lights and signals, filedDecember 27, 1934, Serial Number 759,415, which became Patent No.2,032,472 dated March 3, 1936.

With the above and other objects in view that will become apparent asthe nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists inthe novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter morefully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a part of the apparatus forefiecting alternate illumination of two flashlight lamps;

Figure 2 is a vertical crosssectional view taken on line 2--2 of Figure1, showing two solenoids alternately energizable with a single armaturetherebetween for efiecting closing movement of the contact elements forthe alternate illumination of the lamp, the source of electrical energy,the lamps and the circuits therefor;

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 1,showing the spring device associated with the shaft carrying the balancewheel and armature for centering the armature and balance wheel when thecurrent is off;

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on line i4 of Figure 1,showing the two solenoids with the single intermediate armature and thebalance wheel with the stops for limiting movements thereof;

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the pivoted contact memberadapted to be operated by the armature and the spring associatedtherewith for maintaining the contact member in an ofi-center positionwhen the current is off;

Figure 6 is a side edge elevational view of the contact member; and

Figure '7 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section of oneend of the pivoted contact member and the contact cooperating therewith.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawing, electrical devicesmechanically controlled in their operation are illustrated to effect 5the usual illumination of an automobile tail light and the alternateflashing or illumination of a pair of stop lights, the electricaldevices and appurtenances including a mounting base plate |0 upon whicha frame including end legs II and |2 and a top bar I3 is suitablymounted. A shaft I4 is rotatably supported in the end legs H and 2 bymeans of a point bearing l5 associated with the leg II and an adjustablebearing |6 associated with the 1eg'l2. 15

A bracket construction I1 is supported by and centrally depends from thetop bar I3 of the frame and includes a pair of divergent downwardlyextending legs |8 with a solenoid l9 carried by each leg H3 at the innerside thereof with the adjacent ends of the solenoids spaced from eachother as clearly illustrated in Figures 2 and l. A single armature 20 isdisposed between the cores 2| of the two solenoids l9 and is fixed as at22 to the shaft l4.

When the solenoids I9 are de-energized, the armature 20 moves to andremains at a point midway the two armatures by means of devices shownmore clearly in Figs. 1 and 3 and comprising a collar 23 fixed to theshaft l4 adjacent the solenoid and carrying a lateral lug 24 disposedbetween a pair of leaf springs 25 that are anchored at correspondingends as at 26 to the top bar l3 of the frame.

The shaft is also provided with a balance wheel 21 that is securedthereto as at 28 at the side of the solenoids I9 opposite the collar 23for limiting oscillatory movements of the shafts. As shown more clearlyin Figure 4, a lug 29 projects peripherally of the balance wheel 21 andmoves between a pair of cushioned stops 3|] carried by the base platel0.

Electrical contacts controlled in their operation by oscillatorymovements of the shaft l4 influenced by the armature 29 and thesolenoids 33, include a pivotally supported contact bar 3| having aspear-head contact 32 on each end thereof with the bar 3| notched at itsunderside midway its ends as at 33 for the pivotal mounting and supporton the upper end of an angle bracket 34 carried by the base plate I0. Aframe 35 rises above the contact bar 3| and a coil spring 36 attached tothe upper end of the frame and to the contact bar is 50- mounted thereonas to cause the contact bar 3| to assume a tilted position at eitherside of the pivot when the solenoids I9 are de-energized. Tiltingmovement of the contact bar 3| is effected by means'of the arm 37 fixedas at 38 to the shaft M with the lower end of the arm 31 bifurcatedto'provide a pair of spaced lugs 39 between which a pin 40 carried bythe contact bar 3| extends. A pair of terminals posts 4| and 42 aremounted on the base plate It respectively adjacent the ends of' thecontact bar SI and carry spring clip contacts 48 and 44 respectivelydisposed above the contacts 32 on the contact bar 3|- The signalembodies a lamp casing 45 carrying the usual tail light 46 grounded asat 41 and having a wire connection 48 with the source of energy orbattery 49 and controlled by the usual manual switch. The lamp casing 45also contains a pair of stop lights 50 and fii that are adapted to bealternately illuminated or flashed by the mechanism hereinbeforedescribed. The battery 4% is grounded as at 52 and the conductor 53 fromthe other terminal of the battery has a switch 54 set therein and incommunication with the angle bracket 34 that is in electrical contactwith the contact bar 3| upon which the latter is pivotally supported.The lamp 5! is grounded as at 55 and has a conductor 55 extending to theterminal post 42, a wire 51 from the terminal @2 being in communicationwith the adjacent solenoid it. The other stop light 5|] is grounded asat 58 and has a wire connection 59 with the terminal 4! and saidterminal has a wire connection 56 with the adjacent solenoid I9. The twosolenoids Is are grounded as at 6|.

The tail light 46 is of the standard type being in communication withthe battery 49 and switch controlled in the usual manner. The switch 54in the conductor 53 is mechanically connected to the brake mechanism ofthe motor vehicle and upon application of the brake the switch 54 isclosed for completing the circuit from the battery 48 to the pivotalcontact bar 3| and when the latter is in the tilted position shown inFigure 2, under influence of the spring 36, the contact at the end ofthe contact bar 3| engages the contact 44, the current flowing over thewire 55 to the stop light 5| and to ground for return to the battery.Current also flows through the wire 51 to energize the adjacent solenoidIQ for the attraction to the core thereof of the armature 25; Suchmovement of the armature 25 effects rotation of the shaft M which isrotated against the tension of the spring and lug device 24 and 25 andare balanced by the wheel 21, the shaft M swinging the arm 3? to causeone of the lugs 39 to engage the pin 40 for moving the contact bar 3| onits pivotal support for separating one contact 32 from the contact 44and causing engagement of the other contact 32 with the contact 43. Suchmovement de-energizes the previously active solenoid I9 and effectsenergization of the other solenoid, and the illumination of the lamp 5%)and the circuit to the lamp 5| is broken. As long as the mechanismremains in applied position, current continues to alternately flow tothe lamps 50 and 5| for alternate flashing thereof, under control of themechanism described. When the brake mechanism is released, bothsolenoids l9 are vie-energized, the shaft I4 centered and the contactbar 3| assumes a tilted position by the spring 36 with oneof thecontacts 43 or 44 engaged with a contact 32.

From the above detailed description of the invention, it is believedthat the construction and operation thereof will at once be apparent andwhile there is herein shown and described the preferred embodiment ofthe invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changesmay be made therein without departing from the two solenoids to bealternately attracted'by the solenoids to effect oscillation of theshaft, a contact bar pivotally supported intermediate its ends below theshaft and independently of the shaft and having a contact at each end, aseparate contact for each bar contact, a pin projecting laterally of thecontact bar, and an arm depending from the shaft and forked at its lowerend to straddle said pin and movable into ene gagement therewith foroperation of the contact bar.

2. Means for effecting alternate flashing of lamps comprising arotatable shaft, a balance wheel on the shaft for limiting oscillatorymovements of the shaft, a solenoid at each side of the shaft, anarmature carried by the shaft between the two solenoids to bealternately attracted thereby to effect oscillation of the shaft, acontact bar pivotally supported intermediate its ends below the shaftand independently of the shaft and having a contact at each end, aseparate contact for each bar contact, a pin projecting laterally of thecontact ba'r, an arm depending from the shaft and forked at its lowerend to straddle said pin and movable into engagement therewith foroperationof the contact bar, and means associated with the shaft forholding the arm on the shaft that effects pivotal movement of thecontact bar out of engagement with said pin when the solenoids arede-energized.

' OSCAR J. CRAWFORD.

JAMES W. BROWN.

